An antiviral coating developed by researchers from Australia’s University of Queensland destroys COVID-19 and the flu when sprayed on surfaces and face masks.

The water-based coating features so-called “nanoworms” — worm-like polymer structures — that destroy viruses by rupturing their membranes.

Source: University of Queensland

Designed as a barrier against surface and face mask transmissions of COVID-19, the coating reportedly is also capable of inactivating influenza A.

The study, Water-Borne Nanocoating for Rapid Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses, appears in the journal ACS Nano.